Experience prehistory hands-on at Dinosaur National Monument, Utah.
Visitors travel from around the world to experience this unique park where evidence of dinosaurs has been preserved for millions of years. Some refer to it as Dinosaur National Park, but technically it is a national monument.
Spanning over 200,000 acres, Dinosaur National Monument is located on the border of Utah and Colorado. There are sites and attractions in both states.
The incredible number of dinosaur fossils, footprints, and other prehistoric sites gives the nearby town of Vernal and Northeastern Utah the nickname “Dinosaurland.”
Image courtesy of Google Maps
This area is proud to be among the top destinations in the world for dinosaur and prehistory enthusiasts!Jump to a section if you already know the information you’re looking for:
In 1909, Earl Douglas discovered the first dinosaur bones in Utah while searching for fossils on behalf of a museum.
Earl Douglas and his team started a quarry to continue his excavation. They eventually unearthed thousands of fossils, which established the area around Vernal, Utah, as one of the hotspots for paleontological research worldwide.
In 1915, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made the Dinosaurland fossil beds an official national monument.
Today, the site has been developed to allow visitors to see evidence that dinosaurs were here, while learning what life was like millions of years ago. It’s more than a fun dinosaur park—it’s a piece of prehistory!
Besides all the dinosaur fun, Dinosaurland is home to evidence of human cultures.
Many ancient petroglyphs (carvings in stone) and pictographs (paintings on stone) were left by the Fremont people, an ancient civilization that inhabited this area before the 14th century.
Dinosaur National Monument and the rest of Dinosaurland is rich with history and excitement!
On the Utah-side of the monument, visitors can interact with a deposit of real dinosaur fossils called the “Wall of Bones.” Over 1,500 dinosaur bones are on display, still embedded in the cliff-side where the ancient creatures came to rest millions of years ago during the late Jurassic period.
Ready to play paleontologist? You can touch real dinosaur fossils at the Wall of Bones site! This two-level exhibit allows you to see more dinosaur bones in one place than you are likely to see anywhere else.
All visitors to Dinosaur National Monument will want to make sure they check out the Wall of Bones. It’s hard to miss!
The Quarry Exhibit Hall is on the site of the famous dinosaur quarry where Utah’s first dinosaur fossils were discovered in 1909. It houses the famous Wall of Bones—but that’s not all. Visitors can also see the remains of famous dinosaurs from the later Jurassic period, including:
These bones are more than 149 million years old. You can even touch some of them! The Exhibit Hall is open all year round and rangers are on hand to answer your questions.
On the Colorado-side of the monument area, the Green and Yampa Rivers flow through deep, majestic canyons. These are some of the most beautiful scenic views in the West.
Don’t miss Harpers Corner Road for amazing views of the river below. The nearby Canyon Visitor Center staff can provide you with more information to help you fully experience Dinosaur National Monument. There are also information boards and a film to help you get the best out of your visit.
You can contact the visitor center at (970) 374-3000.
Take your adventure to the next level—book a rafting tour through the canyon and down the Green River!
For visitors who love a good adrenaline rush, this whitewater adventure is just as exciting as it is beautiful.
As you float down the river, you’ll pass right by Steamboat Rock, a huge monolith in the center of Dinosaur National Monument that towers over the water.
In 2019, the International Dark-Sky Association officially designated Dinosaur National Monument as an International Dark Sky Park.
These are special areas with strict limits on light pollution to protect the incredible night-sky experience of the stars above.
The night-sky views in Dinosaur Monument are breathtaking. So, if you ever get the opportunity to visit at night, don’t forget to look up!
Image courtesy of NPS
Dinosaur National Monument is the ideal place to get closer to nature and enjoy a camping trip.
There are six main campgrounds to choose from. Because they are in the National Monument area, they are all set in beautiful scenery but have limited facilities.
Image courtesy of NPS
✔️Potable water (seasonal)
✔️Trash and recycling facilities (seasonal)
❌Food storage
❌Firewood
✔️Staffed (seasonal)
✔️Cellphone reception (seasonal)
The Green River Campground is located in the west of Dinosaurland. It is a scenic, shady site located on the banks of the Green River, with views of Split Mountain. It’s also just eight miles from the Quarry Exhibit Hall, where you can see the famous Wall of Bones.
With 80 sites in total, Green River Campground is very large. However, it’s fairly basic, with running water and toilets but no showers or RV hookups. Be careful with kids here though, as the river can be dangerous.
Image courtesy of NPS
✔️Potable water (seasonal)
❌Trash and recycling facilities (seasonal)
✔️Food storage
❌Firewood
❌Staffed
❌Cellphone reception
Echo Park Campground lies at the heart of Dinosaur National Monument. The location is stunning, with huge cliffs rising up above the Green River, including the iconic Steamboat Rock. There are several Fremont petroglyphs on the nearby canyon walls. On clear nights, campers are treated to stunning views of the stars and the Milky Way.
One of the most exciting parts of camping at Echo Park is the journey to get there. It lies at the end of a 13-14 mile trail that requires an SUV or truck to navigate. However, this track is impossible to cross in wet conditions.
The campground has 22 sites. But it is basic, with vault toilets and a seasonal supply of water. Don’t forget to bring the bug spray for this one!
Image courtesy of NPS
❌Potable water
✔️Trash and recycling facilities (seasonal)
✔️Food storage
❌Firewood
❌Staffed
❌Cellphone reception
Located in a scenic area in the northwestern corner of Dinosaur National Monument, Rainbow Park Campground is near the fascinating Fremont petroglyphs at McKee Springs. The campground is on the banks of the Green River at the head of Split Mountain Canyon.
Rainbow Park is quiet and very secluded. It has picnic tables and enough room for four tents. These four sites are quite close together, so it’s good for those who like to meet their neighbors. The dirt access road becomes impassable when wet, so visiting in summer is best.
Image courtesy of NPS
✔️Potable water (seasonal)
✔️Trash and recycling facilities
❌Food storage
✔️Firewood (seasonal)
✔️Staffed (seasonal)
✔️Cellphone reception
Split Mountain Campground is close to Green River Campground. It’s much smaller, with just four sites, and is closer to Split Mountain. If you plan to go rafting, this is a great spot, since the Split Mountain boat ramp where you would disembark is nearby. As with the Green River Campground, take care with young children as the river is not suitable for swimming and can be dangerous.
Image courtesy of NPS
✔️Potable water (seasonal)
❌Trash and recycling facilities (seasonal)
❌Food storage
❌Firewood
✔️Staffed (seasonal)
❌Cellphone reception
Deerlodge Campground is in the far east of Dinosaur National Monument, at the head of the Yampa Canyon. It provides tent camping only and has seven sites, with picnic tables, drinking water, and vault toilets. The Yampa and Green Rivers are popular spots for rafters, so this is an ideal campground if that’s on your itinerary.
The river is calm in late summer and may be suitable for swimming—but check with the National Park Service before doing so. Be careful in wet conditions as the campground often floods during spring and becomes difficult to access.
✔️Potable water (seasonal)
❌Trash and recycling facilities (seasonal)
❌Food storage
❌Firewood
✔️Staffed (seasonal)
❌Cellphone reception
Located in the far north of Dinosaurland, this campground gets its name from its position at the head of the Ladore Canyon. It is another site that is popular with rafters. Be sure to take the short hike to the top of the Gates of Ladore trail to see breathtaking views of the canyon.
Image courtesy of NPS
Dinosaur National Monument is home to some of North America’s most iconic animals, including:
Wildlife encounters in Dinosaur National Park should be enjoyed from a distance. Don’t approach the animals and never feed them.
Use proper food storage to ensure that you do not attract animals. Bears are particularly attracted by the smell of food. You should be aware of what action to take if you see one.
Dinosaur National Monument spans the border between Utah and Colorado. The Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is located at 11625 E 1500 S Jensen, Utah 84035. Various sites and attractions are scattered across the monument area.
While the monument headquarters are located in the town of Dinosaur, Colorado, the actual dinosaur fossils are located in Utah.
If you are using GPS to find your way, the Quarry Visitor Center is situated at:
Latitude: N 40° 26′ 17.0277″
Longitude: W 109° 18′ 25.6701″
To get to the monument, take US 40 to Vernal, which is located at the intersection of US 40 and US 191. From there, you can reach a number of different attractions.
Please visit the National Parks Page for complete and current hours.
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The cost of visiting Dinosaur National Monument varies depending on the vehicle you use to enter or if you park outside the monument area and walk-in on foot. The rates are as follows:
You can also purchase an Annual Monument Pass for $45, which allows you to enter as often as you’d like during the year.
The weather in Dinosaur National Monument is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, typical of Northeastern Utah. Snow is common during winter months. There is occasional rain, but this area is still considered a desert.
Dressing in layers is a good idea if you visit outdoor sites during winter.
Once you have finished exploring Dino Monument, there are so many more fun things to do in Utah’s Dinosaurland!
Fill out the form below to receive a free travel planner and get all the info you need to get the most out of your trip to Uintah County, Utah—The Origin of Adventure!
Dinosaur National Monument is an American national monument located on the southeast flank of the Uinta Mountains[4] on the border between Colorado and Utah at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers. Although most of the monument area is in Moffat County, Colorado, the Dinosaur Quarry is located in Utah, north of the town of Jensen, Utah. The nearest Colorado town is Dinosaur while the nearest city is Vernal, Utah.
Originally preserved in 1915 to protect its famous Dinosaur Quarry,[5] the monument was greatly expanded in 1938 to include its wealth of natural history. The park's wild landscapes, topography, geology, paleontology, and history make it a unique resource for both science and recreation. The park contains over 800 paleontological sites and has fossils of dinosaurs including Allosaurus, Deinonychus, Abydosaurus, and various sauropods.[5] The Abydosaurus consists of a nearly complete skull, the lower jaw, and first four neck vertebrae. The specimen was found at the base of the Mussentuchit Member of the Cedar Mountain Formation and is the holotype for the description.
Paleontologist Earl Douglass of the Carnegie Museum discovered eight vertebra of an Apatosaurus on August 17, 1909,[2] which became the first dinosaur skeleton discovered and excavated at the new Carnegie Quarry. The area around the quarry was declared a national monument on October 4, 1915.[2] The International Dark-Sky Association designated Dinosaur National Monument an International Dark Sky Park in April 2019.[6]
Geology
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Multicolored beds of the Brushy Basin Member of the Morrison Formation The Quarry Visitor Center in context to the landscape. View is from the west.The rock layer enclosing the fossils is a sandstone and conglomerate bed of alluvial or river bed origin known as the Morrison Formation from the Jurassic Period some 150 million years old. The dinosaurs and other ancient animals were carried by the river system which eventually entombed their remains in Utah.
The pile of sediments were later buried and lithified into solid rock. The layers of rock were later uplifted and tilted to their present angle by the mountain building forces that formed the Uinta Mountains[4] during the Laramide orogeny.[5] The relentless forces of erosion exposed the layers at the surface to be found by paleontologists.
History
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Fremont people
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Petroglyphs at McKee Spring in Dinosaur National Monument[7]The Fremont people lived in the area of what is now Dinosaur National Monument before the 14th century, with archaeological evidence dating from c. 200 to c. 1300. Archaeologists first studied and named the Fremont culture along the Fremont River in south-central Utah and have since traced it through much of the Green and Colorado River drainages.[8]
The Fremont did not build large permanent dwellings; instead, they lived in small bands within natural shelters, such as rock overhangs or shallow caves, or small villages. They consumed plant foods, such as pine nuts, berries, and cactus fruits, as well as wild game, including mule deer, bighorn sheep, smaller mammals, and birds. They also grew corn, beans, and squash, sometimes using irrigation techniques.[8]
The fate of the Fremont culture is unclear. Recent theories suggest that the Fremont's lifestyle may have changed due to drought or other climate factors, dwindling natural resources, or the influence of other neighboring cultures.[8] They left evidence of their presence in the form of petroglyphs and pictographs of human and animal figures, and abstract designs. Human figures typically have trapezoidal bodies and elaborate decorations that suggest headdresses, earrings, necklaces, or shields. The animal figures include bighorn sheep, birds, snakes, and lizards. Purely abstract or geometric designs, such as circles, spirals, and various combinations of lines, are common. Many designs in the monument are accessible for close viewing, along four trails in Utah, one of which is near the visitor center, and a fifth trail in Colorado.[9]
Early scientific explorations
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Paleontologist chips rock matrix from a column of vertebrae in the Dinosaur Quarry.The dinosaur fossil beds (bone beds) were discovered in 1909 by Earl Douglass, a paleontologist working and collecting for the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.[10] He and his crews excavated thousands of fossils and shipped them back to the museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for study and display.
National monument
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President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the dinosaur beds as Dinosaur National Monument in 1915. The monument boundaries were expanded in 1938 from the original 80 acres (0.13 sq mi; 0.32 km2) surrounding the dinosaur quarry in Utah, to 210,844 acres (329 sq mi; 853 km2) in Utah and Colorado, encompassing the river canyons of the Green and Yampa.[2]
Echo Park Dam controversy
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Confluence of the Green and Yampa RiversThe plans made by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on a ten-dam, billion dollar Colorado River Storage Project began to arouse opposition in the early 1950s when it was announced that one of the proposed dams would be at Echo Park, in the middle of Dinosaur National Monument. The controversy assumed major proportions, dominating conservation politics for years. David Brower, executive director of the Sierra Club, and Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society led an unprecedented nationwide campaign to preserve the free-flowing rivers and scenic canyons of the Green and Yampa Rivers. They argued that if a national monument was not safe from development, how could any wildland be kept intact?[11]
On the other side of the argument were powerful members of Congress from western states, who were committed to the project in order to secure water rights, obtain cheap hydroelectric power and develop reservoirs as tourist destinations. After much debate, Congress settled on a compromise that eliminated Echo Park Dam and authorized the rest of the project. The Colorado River Storage Project Act became law on April 11, 1956. It stated, "that no dam or reservoir constructed under the authorization of the Act shall be within any National Park or Monument."[12]
Historic places
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Places on the list of National Register of Historic Places include:[13]
Green River Canyon in Dinosaur National Monument viewed west from Harper's Corner View east from Harpers Corner showing the local geologyClimate
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The Dinosaur National Monument sits on a vast area of desert land in Northwestern Colorado and Northeastern Utah. Typical of high deserts, summer temperatures can be exceedingly hot, while winter temperatures can be very cold. Snowfall is common, but the snow melts rapidly in the arid and sunny climates of these states. Rainfall is very low, and the evaporation rate classifies the area as desert, even though the rainfall exceeds 10 inches.
Climate data for Dinosaur National Monument Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 33.0Features
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Further information on fish fossils at: Doughnut Formation
The quarry
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The Quarry Exhibit Hall Dinosaur bones on the quarry wall viewed east. This shows the bones lay three-dimensionally in the sandstone. Revised quarry map combining the original Douglass map, later historical data and current bones. The Green River in Dinosaur National Monument.The "Wall of Bones" located within the Dinosaur Quarry building in the park consists of a steeply tilted (67° from horizontal) rock layer which contains thousands of dinosaur fossils. The preserved section is only a portion of what was originally present when Douglass made his discovery as seen on the map above. When work ceased in 1922, a portion of the quarry was left for future development. This work began as part of President Franklin Roosevelt's Civil Works Administration, which provided employment during the Depression under the Transient Relief Service and later under the Works Progress Administration.[16] This work included constructing a road to the quarry, removal of overburden covering the bone-bearing strata, and building of a small, temporary museum. World War II interrupted work, but this was resumed in 1951 with the building of a small metal building over the east portion of the quarry to test whether bone was abundant enough to warrant a larger, more permanent building. This more permanent building was erected in the mid-1950s as part of the National Park Service Mission 66 plan. The architectural design was high controversial for its ultra-modern use of glass, steel and concrete ramp that spiraled around a cylindrical office tower. The building opened at the dedication ceremony on June 1, 1958.[17] The design had two levels and abundant natural light so that visitors could watch technicians remove the hard rock to reveal the excavated fossil bones in-situ.
In July 2006, the Quarry Visitor Center was closed due to structural problems that since 1958 had plagued the building because it was built on unstable clay. The decision was made to build a new facility elsewhere in the monument to house the visitor center and administrative functions, making it easier to resolve the structural problems of the quarry building while still retaining a portion of the historic Mission 66 era exhibit hall.[18] It was announced in April 2009 that Dinosaur National Monument would receive $13.1 million to refurbish and reopen the gallery as part of the Obama administration's $750 billion stimulus plan.[19] The Park Service successfully rebuilt the Quarry Exhibit Hall, supporting its weight on 70-foot steel micropile columns that extend to the bedrock below the unstable clay.[20] The Dinosaur Quarry was reopened in Fall 2011.
Fossils from Carnegie Quarry
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Workers inside the Dinosaur Quarry buildingSee also
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References
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Further reading
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